Where does “well” come from?

well (Old English) comes from Proto-Germanic wallijǭ, from Proto-Indo-European wēlH-, from Proto-Indo-European welH- — to turn, to wind.

well (Old English): well

Definitions

  1. well

Ancestry of “well”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Germanicwallijǭwell; swirl; wave
2Proto-Indo-EuropeanwēlH-to roll, to undulate
3Proto-Indo-EuropeanwelH-to turn, to wind

Words derived from “well”

Every word from Proto-Indo-European welH- →Every word from Proto-Indo-European wēlH- →Every word from Proto-Germanic wallijǭ →